Purpose: This Instruction Memorandum (IM) requires states to update the 3-year inventory of needs for cadastral survey services as required by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Policy/Action: The requirement for this inventory stems from a 2004 OMB study of the Cadastral Survey Program. The inventory, covering Fiscal Years (FY) 2012-2014, will address the need for cadastral survey services for four categories: 1) cadastral brass cap survey, 2) supplemental plats, 3) corner remonumentation, and 4) administrative survey. This 3-year inventory will include all Federal lands. There are two inventory sheets to be used, one for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and one for other Federal agencies. The inventory for Indian country is performed using the Cadastral Automated Request System (CARS). No consideration should be given to whether funding will be available when identifying needs.

This inventory has been refined this year to reflect the Office of Inspector General (OIG) recommendation (report No. C-IN-MOA-0001-2009) to “…identify, prioritize, and conduct surveys on targeted lands, both federal and Indian, which have the highest risk boundaries.” Each need identified in this inventory will include information indicating whether or not significant high value resources are at risk due to uncertain boundary location.

The BLM State Office Cadastral Survey Chiefs will work with the BLM and other Federal land management agencies to identify the cadastral survey services needed. Each Federal land management agency is responsible for identifying its cadastral survey needs in a manner that provides effective land stewardship for the benefit of the public. Reporting elements should be applied consistently in this inventory. This IM requires each state office to complete all data fields using the attached Excel spreadsheet (attachments 4 and 5).

- Communicating at the Washington Office, state, and field level – The need for cadastral survey services will be identified and communicated to Congress and OMB.

- Reporting for the OMB performance measure: “Percent of survey projects of Federal and Indian Trust lands that are funded.”

- Assisting OMB in identifying the scope and type of all the highest priority needs for cadastral services for all Federal-interest lands.

- Provide a tool for the BLM to identify lands with significant resources lost or at risk due to uncertain boundary location as recommended by OIG in the above described report.

Timeframe: This IM is effective immediately. The inventory must be completed by August 16, 2011, to allow time to review and compile data for national, year-end reporting.

Budget Impact: The short-term budget impact is minimal.

Background: This inventory was first compiled in FY 2006 and subsequently updated through FY 2010. The current inventory of cadastral services needs (covering FYs 2011-2013) for BLM lands is projected to cost $86 million to complete. Additionally, because the BLM has statutory authority to provide cadastral services for all federally managed lands, this inventory identifies the cadastral services needs of other Federal land management agencies. Finally, this effort provides a tool to address lands with significant high value resources lost or at risk due to uncertain boundary location as recommended in the OIG draft report identified above.

Manual/Handbook Sections Affected: None.

Coordination: The State Office Cadastral Survey Chiefs will coordinate with the appropriate land management staffs within the BLM and other Federal agencies to update the inventory. National inventory results will be shared with participating Federal agencies. Preparation of this IM was coordinated with BLM state offices.

Contact: If you have any questions concerning the content of this IM, please contact me at 202-208-4201, or your staff may contact Mark Wahlfield, Cadastral Surveyor (WO-350), at 202-912-7316, for further guidance and direction.